Homeland Security: Mystery Submarine Washes Ashore In Florida, Agencies Still Conducting Investigation

A mysterious submarine appeared approximately 150 yards from Fort Lauderdale’s shore in Highlands Beach. Coast Guard officials chose to let it stay adrift. But now, it’s washed ashore.

The Department of Homeland Security is currently investigating the vessel. It appears to be a smaller, makeshift submarine used to smuggle drugs into the country. At least, that’s what United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Eric Pare says about it. According to Sun Sentinel, Commander Pare mentions that they see coincidences like this all the time.

However, the fascinating part comes by its location. The commander elaborates as follows.

“…they’re usually in the deep Caribbean, off the coast of South America or the eastern Pacific on the Mexican side; [or] the Pacific coast. It’s extremely rare to see something like this this far north.”

Yet the agency also holds another theory. It claims it could be a lost part of a migrant vessel. After talking with Boca Raton Ocean Rescue, one of the officials distinctly remembered there being such an aforementioned vessel attached to maritime boat they recently encountered. Commander Pare mentioned that he believed this particular piece to be a pontoon.

The mystery submarine was first spotted by Mark Engelhardt. According to NewsMax, he’s from Texas but was in Florida visiting his parents. He mentioned that he usually travels to the area three times a year to enjoy the sun and hang out. However, he’s never come across a discovery like this one. On October 26, 2015, Mark saw the submarine vessel at the aforementioned 150-yard distance and swam to its location. He thought it might have been an abandoned buoy that fell off a passing ship. Once he got close enough to recognize its resemblance, he took pictures with his underwater camera.

The source states that he left and convinced the U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security to look into the situation further. After investigating the issue, the Coast Guard didn’t see the vessel as a viable threat. However, they kept an eye on it, and placed on it a light fixture so it would be visible to other maritime vessels. Yet, while alerted, they didn’t intend on taking it away from the area.

Nevertheless, on November 5, 2015, it washed ashore and was found by Mayra and Ben Stern as they walked along the beach. Authorities describe it as a 20-foot long, 3.5-foot diameter craft. Its front is pointed, and it has an orange tail. Actually,Engelhardt saw its tail from the coastline. Also, Military.com mentions that the submarine has two entry/exit hatches as well as a six-cylinder engine, propeller, and battery.

📷 Submarine Like Object on Florida Beach Authorities on Thursday supposed what the strange steel vessel… https://t.co/km5Nh7hNa2

— Bipamerica (@Bip_America) November 6, 2015

Supposedly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration are involved in this ongoing investigation as well, says Alabama Media Group. While this is a bizarre find, none of the agencies have updated their websites or social media accounts with any information about their investigative results. Yet many people continue to theorize that the submarine vessel was something made for transporting illegal contraband into the United States’ borders. It could’ve contained any number of potential threats, including biochemical agents.

While these governmental agencies are conducting their research on the subject matter, the submarine isn’t the only strange thing to wash onto Florida’s beaches. According to Tampa Bay Times, in July 2015, a World War II-era flash bomb washed up in St. Pete Beach.

“Strange submarine-like object” lands on #Florida beach https://t.co/h8V7bchz4a Lots of weird stuff washes up here https://t.co/Qcp8w0Hvrz

— Craig Pittman (@craigtimes) November 5, 2015

Likewise, beachgoers have also found things such as body parts, European rockets, foreign animals, and other bizarre objects. And to affirm the contraband theory for the submarine, they tend to find drug packages often.

What are your thoughts on the washed-up submarine? Do you think there was something inside? Why do you think the investigating governmental agencies haven’t released any statements about it? Feel free to express your concerns in the comments section.

[Photo by Chris Jackson / Getty Images Entertainment]